More book covers

More book covers that I have painted. 

Ingheist is Live!

...and here's the link to purchase Ingheist for the Kindle. Click here.

In the Shadow of the Black Sun: The Complete Trilogy now available everywhere!

So here it is, my friends. All 3 books of the trilogy have been collected into 1 ebook and now include illustrations by yours truly. The fully painted covers are included at the beginning of each individual book. This has truly been a labor of love for me and it feels very satisfying to have finished the story (so far). Readers have already asked if the story would continue. It's always possible, however right now I'll be taking a break from the fantasy genre. I am finishing a horror novel at the moment. It's very close to complete, then we'll see what bubbles up from my mind. I've always had more ideas than I knew what to do with.

To download the complete trilogy for the Kindle, click here: In the Shadow of the Black Sun: The Complete Trilogy at Amazon US.

Amazon UK readers click here: In the Shadow of the Black Sun: The Complete Trilogy at Amazon UK.

Also available through Smashwords in all other formats: In the Shadow of the Black Sun: The Complete Trilogy at Smashwords.

I want to thank you all very much for your support as always. For now I return to Elfwhere and scribble notes for future tales.

Walk with the Wind,

William

Mournenhile book now live at Amazon!

Now available at Amazon.com. 

         The bitter cold of Mournenhile's power has gripped the land, his horrific armies sweeping into the west, intent on destroying all who oppose him. His most deadly creations, his twin children born of a mortal woman, lead his armies against the servants of the Wind. Malhain now has command of S'Darin's ghost and his immense power. If he can reunite the broken pieces of the mage's staff, none will be able to stand against him.
        Windenn has returned, changed and all-powerful, also coveting this sacred artifact, her twisted mind set on destroying Mournenhile. Hagan and his companions reluctantly assist her in her quest of destruction, realizing quickly that bringing an end to one devil only replaces him with another.
        Elfwhere is in ashes and the Dwarven kingdom of Pahn Pirik is locked in a civil war brought on by the death of their Queen. With the help of the Addrefae, Vasparian once again leaves his homeland in the hopes of stopping the eastern army.
        When a young and foolish prince takes it upon himself to wrest Harquinn from Malhain's control, a chain of events will be set in motion, bringing Men, Elves and even Dwarves into a climactic battle that will change the state of the world of Kirkaldin forever.

 

 

Here is the link: Mournenhile

An excerpt: In the Shadow of the Black Sun, Book 3

-->

For nearly three hours they descended. The touch of the ice tore the flesh from their feet on occasion, leaving smeared crimson prints behind them.

They felt nothing.

The chattering of unseen things sounded out around them, hiding in the dark recesses of the pit, watching the newcomers as they entered their world. The call of their father was so strong here in his home that it blinded their senses, pulled them along like a river's current.

At long last, the crystalline stairway came to an end, a wide translucent floor spreading out in all directions. The light from far above cast a circular shape at its center and at its edge the darkness began to deepen. All was silent, only the whistling of the frigid wind reaching them this far into the earth.

The boy hesitated, his eyes full of uncertainty as he studied the black areas around them. His sister grabbed his hand and moved ahead, skipping out of the light and sinking into the thick shadow. Their eyes adjusted immediately, an apparent gift from their father and all was clear to them. The way ahead led through countless pillars of ice, formed when the waterfalls had frozen. The bones and skulls of beast and man were embedded inside, their shapes distorted by the nature of their tomb.

Among these tall columns, thin figures stood watching, pale and fleshy wings hanging from their shoulders like a cloak of dead skin. There was death here. The smell of it filled the air like a long-slaughtered army of thousands. They soon noticed the shapes of unrecognizable things entombed within the walls of the place, mythic creatures only spoken of in fictional tales. They were preserved perfectly behind the transparent surface.

"Almost there," the girl encouraged, leading her brother down a narrow side passage. "Father is very close."

They passed scores of the Inquitis, the hissing breath of which emanated through the corridors. Their cancerous flesh was as grey-blue as the sky outside, yet the cold seemed to have no effect on them much like the siblings. Vaporous clouds hovered about their skeletal faces for, unlike the children, they breathed. Mournenhile had imbued them with the spark of life or a semblance of such.

The odor of decay grew much stronger and ahead they could see that the corridor opened up into an immense chamber. Then, the screams reached them, faint at first, thousands of voices shouting in agony. They glanced at one another, puzzled. The girl shrugged with an evil grin and pulled him along with a tug.

When they reached the end of the corridor, the floor dropped off and the roof rose to dizzying heights. At the edge, they carefully peered over, the overpowering smell and cacophonous noise sending them back a step. Far below, in the dim light, countless naked bodies thrashed, struggling to stay afloat in an icy underground sea of slush. Even from afar, it was apparent that they had been returned from death's veil, skin hanging like paper upon their bones. Sightless eyes looked to the ceiling of the chamber as they climbed upon each other in a futile attempt to escape the biting water.

They pulled and scratched with nails long rotten, intertwined hopelessly in a mass of broken limbs and ruptured organs.

Kripplemourn, the keep of their father, melted from below.

Thank you for stopping by,

William

New lower prices on In the Shadow of the Black Sun!

I bet you didn't realize the prices have been reduced for the 2 books of the In the Shadow of the Black Sun series, did you? I want as many fantasy fans to read them as possible, so I'm making them as affordable as I can. A Dream of Storms, once $4.99, is now only $2.99! Book Two, Shards of S'Darin was, until recently, $5.99. It can now be downloaded for a mere $3.99. For those looking for an exciting fantasy adventure with interesting characters and events, have a look. You can read a sample of each book free regardless of which site you visit.

Download A Dream of Storms from:

Amazon for the Kindle

Smashwords in any format. Scroll down for all of your options.


Links for Shards of S'Darin are here:

Amazon for the Kindle

Smashwords in any format. Scroll down for all of your options.


And if you are based in the UK, here are your Amazon links.

A Dream of Storms

Shards of S'Darin

Some of the other retailers have yet to update the pricing and still have the books listed at the old price. So if you visit Barnes and Noble or iTunes, it may take a few days for them to change it over.

I thank you all for your support. If you read the books, please leave a comment or send me an email with your thoughts.

Walk with the Wind,
William

Book 3

Hey there.

Well, I've been getting some writing done on Book 3 of In the Shadow of the Black Sun. Still working on the first chapter, trying to set things up properly. We will delve into the human cities in the south and bring in several characters from that region. Malhain will show no mercy as the darkness of his master shrouds the land. How will the side of good stand against this onslaught?

I have found that much of my time is spent thinking these things through, possible outcomes and character interactions. I write a few paragraphs, then stop to think. The beginning of each story is this most difficult part for me. Once things are set in motion, it becomes much easier to simply follow the characters as they set off on their own. It truly seems as if they guide the story. After all, the writer has created them, their personalities. They can only respond within those given parameters, right? Just a thought.

I'm hoping that with the upcoming release of The Hobbit film, readers will be more curious about books within the fantasy genre and therefore the books that I have written. It is no easy task to keep the reader's eyes on your creations. There's only so much you can do to get noticed. I hope that you will give the writers of Skulldust Circle a chance and download our books or better yet, try the anthology book, A Gathering of Dust. You'll have a sample story from each of us. See what you like and what you don't, then pursue the other books by the authors that you enjoyed. There's a lot of magic within those pages, trust me.

Do you have any questions about my stories? Wondering if I will ever reveal the background of a certain character or take you to far away places that have been mentioned within the books? Feel free to contact me. I enjoy discussing the characters, places and events and who knows, I may even reveal a secret or two?

A Gathering of Dust

My fellow writers from Skulldust Circle have assembled a collection of short stories (some based on existing novels) for your reading pleasure. It was released for the Kindle today and is selling for $5.99 on the US site.

If you've read book 1 of In the Shadow of the Black Sun, you are aware of the character Trune. He is thought by most to be nothing more than the town drunk. Nothing could be further from the truth. Find out the secrets of his past and the true reason that he wound up in Lauden. All of this can be found in my short story entitled Shadewraiths over Pandaria as part of A Gathering of Dust. Click the link to have a look.



A Gathering of Dust

As always, I appreciate your support and look forward to your questions or comments.

Walk with the Wind

William

Return to Embremere Cover Art

The cover to Tales of Embremere, Part 2. The Kindle version of the book is now available for $2.99. I've introduced a much bigger cast of characters in this story and I truly hope you enjoy it. Will there be a part 3? Only after I finish In the Shadow of the Black Sun, Book 3. Working on the outline right now.

You guys have an awesome night/day.

Thanks for visiting!

William

For your reading pleasure...

With all of this talk of cover art, I thought I would mention the books that I have written. These are all available on Amazon.com. Click the cover image and you will be taken to the product page. For those who love a great fantasy tale, I give you:

In the Shadow of the Black Sun 
Book One:
A Dream of Storms

Twelve years ago, The Battle of the Black Sun had left Hagan scarred inside. The scent of blood and the incessant ring of steel were etched in his mind. Though his sword had turned the tides, he had sworn off war and become a recluse, retiring to the hills above his hometown of Lauden and turning to drink. He had hoped to be forgotten. The world would not let him forget the oath that he had sworn in his youth, however, and an honorable Stone Troll named Gorin was sent to convince Hagan to honor it. Councilcrane, the ruling body of mages, had summoned him to the city of Harquinn and Hagan knew that the threat of war from across The Edge must have returned.

Gorin brought ill tidings. Autumn had never come to Elfwhere, but the leaves had begun to fall, foretelling the return of the dark lord Mournenhile, thought destroyed all those years ago. Like an ungodly pairing of bat and wolf, Mournenhile's army of Pith have swarmed into the Elven forest bent on their utter destruction.

Reluctantly, Hagan must once more step into the horrors of war and offer his blade to the cause. Joined by his inexperienced younger brother, D'Pharin and a small group of new companions (Vasparian, an Elf that served with Hagan under the Black Sun, Windenn, the Woodwarden and Shindire, the haughty Elf from across The Sleeping Sea) he sets off for the ancient city of Harquinn with a heavy heart.

What will the mages ask of him this time? Memories of atrocities committed in the name of Harquinn flooded back into his mind.

Can he become the hero that he once was, redeeming himself and driving back the horrific creatures within the armies of Mournenhile?

Book Two:

Shards of S'Darin

 Malhain and the forces of Mournenhile now occupy the west's most important stronghold. After narrowly escaping the battle, Davaris, possibly now the last living mage, pulls the others along on a seemingly impossible quest; to gather the remnants of S'Darin's staff, destroyed on the battlefield years ago. The only person that knows the location of S'Darin's staff is a madman, now locked away in Harrow Isle, an island asylum only accessible through Pahn Pirik, the underground kingdom of the Dwarves. The true nature of Shindire's visit to the mainland becomes apparent as they set off on their long journey into the barren south.

The forest of Elfwhere has nearly been destroyed. Vasparian and Gorin return to the forest of the Elves in the hopes of defending its capital and rescuing Vasparian's family. Can the Elves convince the mysterious Addrefae to fight, unleashing their ancient sorcery against their common enemy?

Thousands strong, a shambling column of diseased people travel mindlessly toward the north. What is Trune's role in Mournenhile's evil plan and will the true nature of the plague finally be revealed?

Tales of Embremere:
Book One:
Embremere

The majestic city of Embremere had been built on an immense platform high above the surface of the lake, with the poor and
criminal element creating their own society below it in a world they called The Under. Into this world, Grivvin Lo'Rynin is exiled. He is the last of the Wychan, Embremere's high order of wizards who have, over the generations, lost their power. And now he is an outcast.

As fate would have it, a young girl named Lyrica pulls him from the churning waves that night, saving his life and dragging him along on a dangerous adventure facing whirlpools, dragons and the grey-skinned fish-men called the Cuda, who cruelly rule The Under.

Can Grivvin survive in this strange land long enough to unlock the secrets of Wychan magic and seek revenge on the nobles that branded him useless?

What dark secrets lie at the bottom of Lake Embremere?


Tales of Embremere:
Book Two:
Return to Embremere

 Horrific creatures have begun to appear in The Under. Through the careless use of Wychan magic, Grivvin has unknowingly resurrected long dead monsters lying at the bottom of Lake Embremere. It is soon discovered that only magic can destroy them, physical weapons only stopping them temporarily. Even the vicious Cuda are threatened by the rising terror and through the kidnapping of a friend, force Grivvin to set about ridding The Under of this unholy horde.
Can Grivvin and his new friends find a way to destroy these creatures? Is his growing power strong enough? Will Modmargen, God of the Cuda live up to his end of their bargain?
Join a new cast of young characters in the latest installment in the Tales of Embremere series.

Undergrowth
A horror novella

A madness had hung over the Dinbury house for years. After his father commits suicide in front of him and on a public street, Chet sets about trying to unravel the mystery of his father's insanity. What secrets lie hidden in his father's study, full of odd artifacts and books of ancient lore. What is that sickly sound that he hears in the night and why can't his wife hear it? Are the demons of madness now coming for him?








The sequel to Embremere is in the final stages and will soon be release in paperback and for the Kindle. Then, it's on to the third book of In the Shadow of the Black Sun.


Thank you and happy reading,


William

Shards of S'Darin free this weekend!

 

This Saturday and Sunday, Part two of In the Shadow of the Black Sun, Shards of S'Darin will also be free. I am generating interest in this epic fantasy series by offering book 2 for free in the hopes that those who download it will also purchase Part one, A Dream of Storms for $2.99. Also available is Embremere, the first book in a new fantasy series aimed at a more Young Adult audience. Read the sample and give that one a try as well. 

Links to my books

With all of this talk of artwork for book covers, I thought I would remind everyone that I write as well. LOL. I'm posting links to each of my books in the hopes that you check them out, read the samples and hopefully purchase one or more. All of the stories have great reviews and I've gotten a lot of good feedback from readers.

In the Shadow of the Black Sun Saga
(All ages Dark Fantasy series)

• Book 1: A Dream of Storms
• Book 2: Shards of S'Darin
• Book 3: In Progress (No, that's not the title, silly)

Tales of Embremere
(All ages/YA Fantasy series)

• Book 1: Embremere
• Book 2: Ghosts of Embremere (In Progress)

Undergrowth
(A Horror Novella)

Embremere sample

Here are the first few pages of Embremere. Enjoy!

CHAPTER ONE

The circular stone was pulled away as Grivvin struggled against the guards. A hole, roughly twice the width of his shoulders was revealed, the sound of the churning water crashing below easily heard. The ferocious storm had not relented for six days, battering the city of Embremere and costing the fishermen many days work. The rain beat so hard against the cathedral windows on this night, that he fully expected them to shatter from the force.

"Can you stop the storm now, Wychan? You'd better give us a display of your abilities or you'll be feeding the bottom dwellers," growled the guard known as Thax. Like most of the royal soldiers, he kept his head shaved, giving him a most sinister appearance.

"It doesn't work like that, I told you!" Grivvin explained as he tried to back away from the gaping hole to no avail.

"You are a Wychan, fool! Of course it works like that. Your father was a Wychan and his father before him. Since your dear sisters are away, you are the last of the bloodline. Now, stop this bloody storm!"

"My father's power didn't reach its full strength until he was nearly forty years old. I'm only seventeen and there's no one left to teach me! How can you expect me to bend the weather to my will at my age?"

Footfalls echoed throughout the room as another figure joined them. Grivvin could not see the man, despite twisting in the guards grip.

"You have the books. Can you stop this storm or not, Wychan?" said the commanding voice. Grivvin recognized it, the voice of Kelt, Prince of Embremere, he of jet-black hair and soul.

"Your grace....I-"

"Can you stop it?"

"No, your grace, but I-"

"I have heard enough! Throw him in!" Prince Kelt ordered and walked off into another chamber. "I've had enough of his disobedience. Wychan, eh? The word seems to mean incompetence."

"Wait, wait! You can't do this!"

The Prince chuckled, his voice barely audible. "I can do anything I want, boy."

With a shove, Grivvin dropped through the hole. He had enough sense to inhale deeply just before the turbulent waves took him in. The force of the water was unbelievable and struggle as he might, it tossed him about like a ragdoll. And it was cold, his muscles tightening in response as the current pulled him along violently and at an alarming speed. His body spun several revolutions, causing him to lose all sense of direction. With the darkness of night, he could not be sure which way was up.

Suddenly, something wrapped around his waist, entangling him, preventing him from swimming for the surface. His lungs were near to bursting as he fought against the thing, hands pulling at its thick, cold length. He knew that soon his body would surrender, the air in his lungs no longer enough to sustain his life, and on reflex, he would gasp for air. Upon inhaling the water, he would drown. It was inevitable. Something slithered beneath his arm and tugged hard, trying to pull him away to some deep and hidden lair. The pressure in his head was now unbearable and he felt his consciousness slipping away as he rose in the water. Something had pulled him free of the thing, but it mattered not. His air was gone. He had nearly reached his lungs capacity and would die here, floating in the Lake Embremere. He felt his head break the surface, moonlight filling his eyes as he opened them in shock. He gasped painfully for air, spitting out lake water, the constriction of his chest excruciating.

“Stop flailing about! You’ll drown us both!” someone called out next to him, she that had pulled him from the creature’s grasp. She had slipped her arm over his chest and was pulling him along on his back. He did his best to stop struggling and allow the panic to fade. He would not die this day.

Now, I know you're interested in what happens next, aren't you? Download the Kindle version of this new fantasy novel from Amazon by clicking HERE.

Finished!

The new book is officially finished! I've sent copies off to a few people, to get their feedback before I publish. I also have to finish the cover art. This one is very challenging, which seems strange I'm the one who decides on the concept. Oh well, I guess I like to challenge myself. I hope to have the art done before the weekend is over. We shall see.

Digital Sketch-William Kenney

Anyway, this story features younger characters and feels a bit more like a Young Adult story. My other fantasy stories would also be suitable for young adults as well. This new book and the In the Shadow of the Black Sun books have no profanity or sexual situations in them. The horror book that I am working on has enough to go around.

If enough people like the new book, I would like to write a sequel. It's already outlined in my head and ready to be written.

I've also been getting a lot of questions about doing cover art, so I think that's going to keep me pretty busy. If you have a question or comment, just drop a note here or email me at WilliamKenney_author@yahoo.com. 

Have a great one, everybody.

William

Undergrowth is free this weekend!

Download Undergrowth, a horror novella, free from Amazon right now!

Here is the link.

Undergrowth, for sale on Amazon

The cover to Undergrowth

Have any of you given my horror novella a try? Any thoughts? It's my homage to Lovecraft and Poe. They always give me a certain creepy feeling when I read them and with this, I was striving for the same. If printed, this would be roughly 35 pages, so it's a fairly quick read. I plan to expand a bit and publish some of the things that I have written outside of the fantasy realm.
There are more horror stories coming and even a cyberpunk tale on the horizon. The story that I am currently working on could even be considered Young Adult.
In other news, I watched the movie, Immortals, Saturday night. Yikes. I'll leave my comments about that movie on a separate post.

I welcome any comments or questions.

Thanks,

William

Meet Gary Vanucci!

Hello, everyone. I thought I would throw the spotlight on a fellow fantasy author and show some support where I can. 

Gary Vanucci is a writer with a definite plan. Last year, he published his debut novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights: Beginnings and has recently begun releasing short stories revealing the histories and colorful pasts of the main characters of that world.

Wothlondia Rising I: Distant Familiarity 

Wothlondia Rising II: A Rose in Bloom

Also recently released by Gary Vanucci and Nicholas Titano, Realm of Ashenclaw 4e D&D Supplement.

All right, let's learn more about Gary.

 

Hi, Gary. Would you please introduce yourself to the readers?

Hello, all. I am from a small town in Pennsylvania just north of Philadelphia. I grew up reading comics and sci-fi/fantasy novels, which opened my imagination to degrees I never thought possible. I played role-playing games of all kinds and the experiences sent my mind somewhere different. I spent time in the late 80’s as a singer in a hard rock band, obtained a degree in Graphic Design and illustrated and wrote stories, games, etc. I found that as I grew older, my illustration and design fell to the wayside, but my love of writing moved forward. I am currently in the process of expanding on that love of writing. My goals in the next few years include improving on my current writing style, finding my ‘voice’ and adding more depth to my writing as I move forward. I live ‘outside the box’.

You and I have worked together recently. I’ve provided artwork for some of your publications so I am aware of some of the things you will be publishing, but for those that may not know, tell everyone what your plans are for the future with your company.

I intend on pushing the Realm of Ashenclaw for the foreseeable future, so people had better get used to seeing it! I have grandiose plans for the world, including 5 more full length novels (am currently working on #2) to hopefully finish the storyline that I am working on now with the current characters. I also plan on writing a few more short stories in the future that focus on the ‘bad guys’, as well as full length novel plans telling the story of the main protagonist: Zabalas Dimonia. I even started a story telling the Legend of Ashenclaw and how it shaped the current version of the world. I also have my sights set on giving away a few more short stories on my blog occasionally as I have a few more ideas floating around in my head that need to come out! In the next few years, I would love to expand the universe and possibly opening it up to other writers to share in it.

I know that you are an avid gamer. What role do you think gaming has played in your creative career?

Gaming had introduced me to so many things. It opens the mind to new experiences and really pushes your imagination. As a game master (the guy who runs the games), I found that I was under deadlines to get things done, so it really prepares you for many things, including public speaking, making your thoughts coherent and also provides leadership experiences.

What writers do you think have had the most influence on you?

Anyone that knows me knows that R. A. Salvatore is my favorite author. I aspire to his greatness and I will tell you why. When he tells a story, it brings vivid imagery to mind. His characters are fairly unique and extremely enjoyable to read and his combat scenes are the best I’ve read. I aspire to do exactly all of these things. I also enjoy a few lesser known authors, including James Silke and all of the writers that worked on the Wild Cards series that I enjoyed in the mid-80’s. That included George R. R. Martin as their editor. Those stories are a must read for anyone who enjoys superheroes, though it tells it realistically as opposed to what you read in comics. I also very much enjoyed the unmatched wit of Douglas Adams, the funniest writer to walk the face of the planet (in my opinion).

Do you have plans to write stories that are set outside the Realm of Ashenclaw? Other genres, perhaps?

If I do, it may be under a pen name! I have interests in many things and tons of ideas floating around in my cranium. I have a series of futuristic bounty-hunters set in the late 2000’s that I began writing in 1998-1999 that has 200 pages finished and is just sitting there…waiting. I would also like to try my hand at comedy in the future as well. Let’s just say that I am not ruling anything out.

How do you usually work? Do you outline a story first or just dive in and work out the details along the way? Do you give yourself a quota to meet, for example a specific amount of words per day or week?

The first novel was written with very few notes. I just plowed through it and let the chips fall where they may. I had an idea from the notes and kind of let them take me where they wanted to go. The world I spent a good deal of time on with a friend (Nicholas Titano of Infernal Titans), who helped me shape it and helped me name things. As far as the books go, I have gone back and outlined a good deal of it and I have an overarching storyline that makes sense to me. I begin to outline a book in greater detail before I start to write it and it goes from there. For the most part, I never know what I am going to write from one page to the next. It’s kind of fun that way! I also try to write 5k words a week. I often fall short with my blog and other commitments, but that is my goal. Last two weeks, I did write over 10,000 words though! I just started a new job, too, so I have another test period for a month or so until I get used to it.

What would you consider the drawbacks and/or benefits of self-publishing?

The only drawback I see is getting noticed. There is a plethora of self-published books that are out there and it is up to the people to decide what they like based on reviews and samples. I just try to put my best work out there and hope than when I am discovered, the reader sees that I put an effort into it and had it edited, etc. There is nothing worse than an ‘author’ who puts out an unpolished book and expects anyone to pay for it.

How important do you consider reviews on your work?

I will ask you to check out this post to decipher that! http://eyeonashenclaw.blogspot.com/2012/02/authors-need-reviews.html

It is one of my more popular posts and seems to have gotten support from most authors and readers. That being said, I suppose it really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Sometimes I feel it is very important and other times I think it doesn’t make one iota of difference. Depends what day you catch me.

How much do you participate in social media? Do you think it has an impact on your book sales?

I am a social media maniac. I believe that it is important and really it is the only way we can get our work some exposure. It doesn’t cost anything and after a while, it seems to have an impact. I try to post some things that are personal in between promotional texts in order to interact with people. I also try to help other authors in retweeting and promoting them too, especially ones that have gone out of their way to aid me.

Just for fun, fast forward ten years. They are making a movie of Covenant of the Faceless Knights. Which actors do you see playing which characters?

I have thought about this a few times and am at a loss. I know that I would love for Mila Kunis to play Rose if she wanted the part! I would sprinkle in a few famous names with new talent and look for several new actors to try giving them the break that I want right now: Just a shot at dazzling an audience.

Do you have any advice for someone considering a writing career?

Yeah, don’t! All kidding aside, I was told by an amazing fantasy author once that writing is not for the lazy. I couldn’t agree more. First of all, do it because you want to and not to ‘make it big’, because that is a one in a million shot. It could be you, but it probably won’t be…lol. Do it because you love it. Also, if you plan on doing it seriously, then please do it right. If you put junk out there and call yourself an author, it makes it harder for the other talented indie authors to have any credence or validity. And above all: READ! I know plenty of authors who don’t read. Find time to do it. Writers who don’t read, in my humble opinion, will eventually become stagnant and their work will suffer. Do it and do it well is what I say.

Thank you very much for the interview, Gary! 

Do yourself a favor and visit Gary's blog. Read the samples of his stories that are available on his Amazon page. You might find it very much to your liking. I did.

William

Undergrowth

Hello all. I should be releasing this novelette in the next few days. I consider it an homage to Lovecraft, whose creepiness I enjoy. I painted the cover as well with Graphic Design help from my wife, as always. You'll be able to find this on Amazon for the Kindle. I think I'll be charging only 99 cents for the book. Perhaps one day, I will collect my shorter stories into one collection.

In other news, sales of the In the Shadow of the Black Sun saga are great with the new release of Shards of S'Darin. David Woods and I are still forging ahead with our horror novel and I have several other projects going at the same time. I can't help it. My mind never rests. Fantasy, Horror, Cyberpunk, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy. It's all in there just waiting to come out.

Your comments are always appreciated and thank you for visiting.

Walk with the Wind (But don't get tangled in the undergrowth.)

William

Book Cover to Escaping Entry by Benedict Martin

The cover to Escaping Entry by Benedict Martin

Here's another cover painting I did. I painted it digitally in Photoshop, using a graphics tablet.

The book is called Escaping Entry and is a great read. The author, Benedict Martin is currently working on the sequel, which I am eager to read.

Here is the description of the story:

Entry used to be a pleasant city, rating as high as fifth on Malcolm Tebby’s annual list of places to visit if you couldn’t afford to go anywhere nice. But then a plague came, and just like that, the cobblestone metropolis, known for its bell towers and strangely uncomfortable benches, became a ghost town. For seventeen year old Billy Stun, plague survivor and blossoming artist, Entry is an exercise in boredom, so when an eccentric nobleman named Harold asks him to be his personal photographer, he agrees. Harold, though, is not normal, and when Billy discovers part of his job is taking photographs of Harold murdering creatures of legend, it isn’t long before he begins pining for the eerie quiet of home.

Visit the Amazon page to download the book in Kindle format HERE.
You can also find his blog HERE.

Shards of S'Darin available for the Kindle...

At last, Book Two of the In the Shadow of the Black Sun series is available on Amazon.com. Shards of S'Darin is about 80 pages longer than A Dream of Storms at the same price, $2.99. The storyline gets much darker as our heroes set off on a quest to reunite the staff of S'Darin, the most powerful mage that has ever existed.



Click here to visit the Amazon page for Shards of S'Darin.

And to purchase A Dream of Storms.


Full description:

Harquinn has fallen.

Malhain and the forces of Mournenhile now occupy the west's most important stronghold. After narrowly escaping the battle, Davaris, possibly now the last living mage, pulls the others along on a seemingly impossible quest; to gather the remnants of S'Darin's staff, destroyed on the battlefield years ago. The only person that knows the location of S'Darin's staff is a madman, now locked away in Harrow Isle, an island asylum only accessible through Pahn Pirik, the underground kingdom of the Dwarves. The true nature of Shindire's visit to the mainland becomes apparent as they set off on their long journey into the barren south.

The forest of Elfwhere has nearly been destroyed. Vasparian and Gorin return to the forest of the Elves in the hopes of defending its capital and rescuing Vasparian's family. Can the Elves convince the mysterious Addrefae to fight, unleashing their ancient sorcery against their common enemy?

Thousands strong, a shambling column of diseased people travel mindlessly toward the north. What is Trune's role in Mournenhile's evil plan and will the true nature of the plague finally be revealed?

Thank you all for your support,

Walk with the Wind,

William